Flooring Installing Laminate

Every manufacturer of laminate flooring provides very specific instructions on the proper method of installing their product.

There are however, some common dos and don’ts that apply to the installation of any laminate floor. Surprisingly many people ignore these instructions, believing that they know better than the manufacturers.

• Laminate flooring must acclimatize to your home. This is done by placing the boxes in the room where you are going to install the laminate for a minimum period of 48 to 72 hours. Failure to do this will cause floors to buckle. This is the number one mistake made by most people including contractors.
• There must be a gap between walls and any other obstacle, (columns, stair risers, heat vents, etc.) of between 5/16 and 1/2 depending on the manufacturer. This allows for the expansion of the floor. If a gap is not left, the floor will buckle.
• If the laminate flooring is going to be installed on a concrete slab floor where there is earth below the concrete, a vapor barrier must be placed between the concrete and the laminate. The seams should be taped with a moisture resistant tape. Laminate flooring should not be installed on any floor that has a drain.
• Some manufacturers will allow the installation of laminate flooring on carpet. The carpet should be a hard twist (Berber), or a very low pile (commercial carpet). If the underlayment is spongy, the flooring will separate when walked on.
• The smallest piece of flooring should never be less than 8 inches long and the width should never be less than 2 inches. Measure your room before you start the installation as it may be necessary to cut the first board in length and the first row of boards in width to avoid having small pieces.
• Joints should be staggered a minimum of 16 inches apart and a minimum of 3 rows for repeating of the joint.
• If installing base board or quarter round on top of the laminate, do not nail through the laminate. A laminate floor must be allowed to expand and contract.
• Repair any and all squeaks and soft spots in the sub-floor before installing the laminate. Laminate flooring will not correct squeak or soft spot problems.

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Installing Laminate Flooring - Not As Difficult as It Seems

If you have decided to add laminate flooring to your home, you may be a bit intimated by installing laminate flooring. This isn’t as hard as you imagine it can be. If you do your homework before you begin and read all of the installation instructions that come with your laminate flooring, it shouldn’t be difficult to learn how to install laminate flooring.

Before you begin, you will need to check that the floor where you are going to install your laminate flooring is smooth and free of any bumps. You need to be sure that the floor is level so that the laminate flooring adheres properly and ensures that you will have laminate flooring that not only looks like a professional installed it, but will last for years as well.

You will need to check all the tiles and ensure that they are all in good condition. Failing to do this may result in your warranty being canceled out if any problems should arise. You want to then saw to the proper length and do a sample layout using the first couple of rows of tile. This will make it certain that the tiles are aligned properly before you are ready to continue. You always want to leave a minimum distance of ¼ inch space between the walls and the flooring.

Then set out the remaining tiles in the second row. You will want to check the fit and that the layout is correct. Be sure that all is square before you go on. Glue the first tile beginning on the left hand side corner in the first row. Any excess glue can be wiped with a dry cloth.

You want to push the tile carefully into place. Use a 2-3 inch piece of plastic tape to secure the seam. If you have difficulty getting the tiles into place, you should tap them lightly with a tapping block. You can take the tape off after the glue has set which will take about an hour.

There is more involved, but you get the basic idea of installing laminate flooring. It is not a job that is difficult if you have patience and a basic knowledge of cutting skills. You can save money if you know how to install laminate flooring because you will not pay to have a professional do it for you.

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